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Pharmacy & Therapeutics Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee meets monthly to review changes in practice. Committee updates, medication alerts, and other valuable information will be posted.
Abbreviation Lists
Lists of approved and unapproved abbreviations will be updated as needed. Drug Shortage
Drug Shortages Update March 2010 On Wednesday, July 19, Methodist Healthcare-Memphis Hospitals’ (MHMH) will implement policies to promote the judicious use of albumin in lieu of a continuing shortage. These policies have been approved by the MHMH Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee.
The commercial availability of albumin has become significantly limited over the past several months. Coupled with its increasing expense, the need to promote responsible use and minimize wastage of this product is crucial. Also, manufacturers have no estimated release dates for improved supplies.
The Committee approved the following actions and recommendations:
- Prescribers are encouraged to include either a specific number of doses, total duration, or total volume for infusion of albumin.
- When prescribers do not specify a duration, a 48 hour automatic stop will be implemented.
- In order to maximize our capacity to “recycle” unused albumin solutions, albumin will be dispensed in its original container. The injection of drug additives directly into the albumin bottle or repackaging albumin into large volume infusions is strongly discouraged.
- Clinically appropriate alternatives to albumin are available for many indications. Crystalloids are first-line and preferred over albumin for virtually all indications except spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Click here for a complete list of guidelines and alternatives
If you have any concerns or questions about this change please contact the Drug Information Center at 516-8288. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Updated 3/22/2010 by Tifany Derheimer.
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